MONTHLY MEANS OF THERMOMETRIC READINGS AT CAPE SHERIDAN, 1905–1906
(Regular thermometric readings were taken daily at 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M.)
| Mean for 27 days in | August, 1905 | +36.86 | °F. |
| „ „ „ „ „ | September, 1905 | +12.66 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | October, 1905 | –8.40 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | November, 1905 | –17.24 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | December, 1905 | –21.83 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | January, 1906 | –29.55 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | February, 1906 | –31.14 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | March, 1906 | –32.28 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | April, 1906 | –0.40 | „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ | May, 1906 | +19.34 | „ |
| „ „ first 17 days in | June, 1906 | +32.18 | „ |
CHAPTER XV
REPORT OF COMMANDER PEARY, ON WORK DONE IN THE ARCTIC IN 1898–1902
President Jesup, and Members of the Peary Arctic Club:
In January, 1897, I promulgated my plan for an extended scheme of Arctic exploration, having for its main purpose the attainment of the North Pole. During the spring of 1897, your President, Morris K. Jesup, became interested in the matter, and suggested the idea of the present Club. His example was followed by other prominent men, and late in May, through the persistent personal efforts of Chas. A. Moore, backed by letters from these and other influential men, five years leave of absence was granted me by the Navy Department, to enable me to carry out my plans.
It being too late that season to get the main expedition under way, the summer of 1897 was devoted to a preliminary trip to the Whale Sound region, to acquaint the Eskimos with my plan for the coming year, and set them to work laying in a stock of skins and meat. These objects were successfully accomplished, and in addition the great “Ahnighito” meteorite of Melville Bay, the largest known meteorite in the world, was brought home.
In December, 1897, while I was in London, the steam yacht Windward, which had been used in his Franz Joseph Land expedition, was tendered to me by Alfred Harmsworth, who offered to have her re-engined and delivered to me in New York. This generous offer I accepted.
In the spring of 1898 the Peary Arctic Club was organised, Morris K. Jesup, Henry W. Cannon, H. L. Bridgman, all personal friends of mine, forming the nucleus about which the rest of you assembled, and in May the Windward arrived; but, to my regret and disappointment, the machinists’ strike in England having prevented the installation of new engines, she was practically nothing but a sailing craft.
The lateness of the season was such that I had to make the most of the Windward as she was. But her extreme slowness (3½ knots under favourable circumstances), and the introduction of a disturbing factor in the appropriation by another of my plan and field of work, necessitated the charter of an auxiliary ship if I did not wish to be distanced. The Windward sailed from New York on the 4th of July, 1898, and on the 7th I went on board the Hope at Sydney, C. B.